iLIKEJOAQUIN

To be completely frank, I was irritated when I read what Manny Pacquio had to say about Gay marriage. Coming from someone who nearly got divorced and who has cheated on his wife multiple times, he has some nerve to act all high and mighty. Now, I’m a firm believer of “to each his own” and people having opinions, but when I feel like someone is attacking who I am as a person – that’s where we got a problem.

I’ve been a supporter of Manny for years, not only because he’s Pilipino, but because he’s a fighter – and a damn good one. He was recently named one of the most influential athletes by Forbes, which doesn’t surprise me because he not only inspires Pilipinos, but people of different race, creed, and sex. Learning what Manny had to say about gay marriage was truly disappointing news and it angers me. It makes me feel ashamed to call him a role model for people to be proud of. A bigot and a homophobe should never be celebrated – EVER.  

In Manny’s response to President Obama’s support for gay marriage, he states, 

“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other.” 

God also expects that when you get married that you stay true to that one person “till death do us part” and to not have sex before marriage. Manny, can you honestly say that you’ve done just this?

Manny continues to add, 

“It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of old,” 

Again, your self righteous thinking has made you look hypocritical. If we want to quote scripture, then let it be known that it states, 

“You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:28. 

Don’t you have several on your body? Here’s another verse from the bible,

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments.” 1 Timothy 2:9. 

I’m sure you’ve given your wife gifts, wore gold around your waist, and have lavish garments. Doesn’t this mean you are committing a grave sin as we speak?

Manny, before you start quoting scripture, PLEASE re-read what the bible says. The bible was written by man Manny, which contradicts your belief when you say, 

“God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man.” 

Isn’t the bible written by man, so wouldn’t it be safe to say that we are considering the laws of man because man wrote the bible?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a practicing Catholic and I’m just trying to justify a point here. In no way do I have the right to judge Manny for his past, but what gives him the right to judge my lifestyle? Before you go on feeling self righteous about another group, look at your own life and be weary of what you take literal when you read the bible. I remember being in ASB in high school and we had to amend our constitution because some of the things didn’t apply anymore. We had to do it to reflect the current state of our student body. In my opinion, I think the bible should be amended to reflect the current times and people and still keep the Lords words to be true. Things have changed and not everything in the bible applies today. I’m sure God knows this. 

I personally believe, God gave us his teachings as a model for us to live by and to ultimately be Christ-like – Christians. Just like when someone gives you advice, you take it with a grain of salt and learn from it. God gave us the freedom to do good, to feel, and to make a positive difference in the world. God doesn’t care who you love, just as long as you love and make this world a better place than you entered it.

With all the suicides that have occurred and bullying because of people being “different” or “gay”, you would think more people would be on the right side of history. 

But that’s not the case. It saddens me to hear how backwards some people’s thinking’s are.

Open your eyes, open your ears, open your hearts – gay people are no different from you. Gay people are not second class citizens.

When celebrities and influential people use their power for hate, you create a bigger divide, creating more problems for the gay youth/community, the closeted, and people like me to feel “normal”.

You segregate the “normal” from the “weird”.

You make it known that I am not like you and that I don’t deserve the same rights that you are privileged to have.

You make it known that I have no voice in society because what you say is right because the bible tells you so.

All this sounds like history repeating its self.

Different era…

Different people…

Same damn struggle.

Manny, somewhere in the world, you’ve made someone feel less than they should. Somewhere in the world, you’ve once again confirmed publicly that gay people are not normal and that it’s wrong to be gay. Somewhere in the world you’ve made someone second guess their life’s worth. With fame, comes responsibility Manny. I hold you accountable for your actions and opinions.

You don’t need my support and I certainly don’t need yours, however I hope one day you’ll come to realize what you say and do, do not reflect Gods teachings, they reflect a bigot and homophobic way of life.

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Being gay myself, I feel a need to voice how I feel and be heard. I invite those to do the same